Egypt's Sohag archaeological gallery was not subjected to blaze: Ministry

Nevine El-Aref, , Wednesday 11 May 2016

The report published in newspapers today claiming a fire had broken into Sohag archaeological gallery in Upper Egypt is unfounded, officials tell Ahram Online

The head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department, Mahmoud Affifi, told Ahram Online that the well which caught on fire at Al-Hawawish hill in Akhmim town is not an archeological site, and lies two kilometers away from the ministry archaeological gallery.

The well, Affifi said, does not hold any monuments or artifacts, adding that its walls are plain with no engravings or paintings.

Gamal Abdel Nasser, the director of the Sohag Archaeological Inspectorate, said that the ministry of antiquities had appointed an archaeological committee to inspect the well and its neighbouring tomb number M24 which belongs to Hemmeen, Akhmim Old Kingdom ruler.

The committee asserted that the well and the tomb are safe and sound, as the fire was immediately extinguished without any losses.